Flouting traffic rules: Fear of accidents looms large as wrong side driving by two-wheeler riders at Kacheri Chowk goes unchecked
Amritsar, February 15
Most commuters mainly two-wheeler drivers violate traffic rules at Kacheri Chowk as they drive on the wrong side while going towards the Vigilance Office from the Administrative and the Court Complex.
After the construction of an overbridge, a narrow road leads to the Court Complex on the Ajnala road.
An illegal roadside parking occupies major portion of the road. The commuters going towards Mall Road, Old Jail Road, Court Road and Cantonment Road are supposed to take a turn from Hartej Hospital traffic light, but instead of driving 300 metres further, most two-wheeler and car drivers take a shortcut towards the Vigilance Office.
The wrong side driving often leads to accidents, road rage and traffic congestion.
Improper barricading by the traffic police also leads to chaos. The traffic coming from Hartej Hospital is diverted towards Old Jail Road (Ranjit Avenue side).
Residents travelling towards Mall Road, Cantonment Road and Court Road have to turn on Old Jail Road and then take a U-turn from a cut near Gurdwara Judicial Commission building. As the distance is too long for commuters so they prefer to drive on the wrong side to reach Kacheri Chowk.
Most of the time, cops are present and managing traffic, but they avoid stopping people coming on wrong side from the Court Complex. On condition of anonymity, a traffic policeman said, “Some advocates flout traffic rules on this stretch. When such violators are intercepted, they assemble and hold demonstration against the traffic police. We can’t stop the practice until the public cooperates.”
“There is a huge traffic jam at Kacheri Chowk during peak hours if vehicles coming from Hartej Hospital are not diverted towards Old Jail Road. The roadside parking should not be allowed as it hinders movement of traffic,” another policeman said.
